Henry howard



(No Model.

H. HOWARD. BALL BEARING.

No. 463,833. Patented Nov. 24, 13891.

FIE-'3.

'rnrns HENRY HOVARD, OF PI-IENIX, RHODEISLAND.

BALL-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,833, dated November24, 1891.

Application filed August 22, 1891. Serial No. 403,404. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY HOWARD, of Phenix, in the county of Kent andState of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Ball-Bearings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This improvement relates to that class of inventions that have for theirpurpose the lessening of the friction of bearing-surfaces moving uponeach other by placing balls between them to change a rubbing to arolling action, as set forth in my United States Patent, No. 439,877,dated November .4, 1890, the subject of this specification being animprovement upon and a modification of the invention described in thatpatent. It is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the case or shell containing theballs with a short piece of an axle 0r shaft in it. Fig. 2 is across-section of the case shown in Fig. 1, taken on line y y, the ballsand axle or shaft being in elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionof the case that holds the balls, taken 011 line w 00, Fig. 1,with theballs in elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged cross-sections ofportions of the case, showing different meth ods of keeping the balls intheir places, with the balls in elevation.

The balls are held in the bearing in a case or shell that is perfectlyfree to turn and which is constructed in the following manner: Itconsists of a tube A, having the hole through it a little larger thanthe diameter of the axle or shaft B that is to turn in it, and

its outside diameter is a little smaller than the hole in the hub orbearing it is to turn in. A series of radial holes e to hold the balls aare made through the sides of the case a a little larger than thediameter of the balls that they may have room to move freely in them,and they may be arranged in any order with regard to each other or varyin number, as may be desired. WVhen the case and balls are intended fortransportation, the holes e are partially closed at their inner andouter ends, so that the balls will not fall out of them when the case isheld separate from the axle or shaft and the hearing. The inner ends ofthe holes are preferably made partially closed byboring them with adrill having a round or beveled end a little larger than the diameter ofthe balls and not running the drill clear through the full size, so asto leave projecting edges f f, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) that partly closethe holes, so that the balls to will not fall out when the axle or shaftis taken out of the case. In Figs. 4 and 5 two ways of partly closingthe outer ends of the holes are shown. In Fig. 4 the metal around thehole is swaged in so as to project over and make a ridge d (l, theaperture through which is smaller than the diameter of the balls, andconsequently Will not let them drop out. In Fig. 5 is shown a methodof'keeping them in by pressing in rings a 0, made just large enough tofit tightly in the holes, and then swaging the metal outside overslightly to hold the rings in place, the aperturein the rings being toosmall to allow the balls to come out. The ends of the holes may bepartly closed in other ways well known to those skilled in the art ofworking metal; but however the closing may be done it is essential thatthe balls should be allowed to project somewhat beyond the case both onits inside and outside and have perfect freedom to turn in their places.It is obvious that the tubes'may be divided lengthwise for conveniencein putting them on shafts with fixed collars.

By this method of holding the balls in a case they are entirely relievedwhen in action (that is, when sustaining the pressure of the axle) fromall contact and pressure of the other balls and the resultant friction,and the disadvantage is also avoided that is met with in holding themseparate by means of rods extending lengthwise of the case, which isthat where there is a rod there will be a space for the whole length ofthe case without any balls; but in this case or shell they may bearranged so as to have balls always in position to take the wholepressure.

Having thus described my improvement, I

claim as my invention 1. In a ball-bearing, a case or shell withperforations for holding the balls separate.

from each other and guiding them in any pre- 3. As a new article ofmanufacture, a case ferrecl way, said perforations being partially forholding balls in a ball-bearing, constructclosed at their inner andouter ends to retain ed substantially as described-that is, a tube theballs thereon, substantially as set forth. I having radial holes in itpartly closed at their 5 2. In a ball-bearing, a case for holding theinner and outer ends and provided with balls :5

balls, consisting of a tube having radial holes held in said holes, asherein set forth.

made in it for holding the balls, said holes be- HENRY HOXVARD. ingcontracted or made smaller at their inner \Vitnesses: and outer endsthan the diameter of the balls, HOWARD F. KING,

10 substantially as described. v 1 .mNJ. ARNOLD.

